Thursday, February 26, 2009

US Airpower Summary, Feb. 26, 2009: F-15Es Deter Enemy Forces

An F-15E Strike Eagle flies a combat mission over Afghanistan in support of Operations Enduring Freedom. The F-15E performs shows of force and provides close-air support for International Security Assistance Force ground operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Aaron Allmon.)

In Afghanistan, a Royal Air Force G-9 Harrier struck buildings in a compound near Kajaki Dam where enemy gunmen had established fighting positions. Armed with small arms, rocket-propelled grenades and other weapons, the gunmen were exchanging fire with coalition ground forces. The Harrier conducted a show of force that successfully suppressed enemy fire; however, when the enemy personnel resumed shooting, the Harrier knocked out their positions using a Paveway guided bomb strike and a rocket attack.

An Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle used guided bomb unit-31s to destroy enemy firing positions after anti-Afghan forces started shooting at Afghan National Army and Afghan National Police forces from hills near a Soltani area settlement. The strikes stopped the enemy's fire. Afghan National Army troops and Army AH-64 Apache helicopters followed up with a sweep after the strikes to ensure no further enemy forces were in the area.

Near Lashkar Gah, a coalition aircraft flew a show of force to allow a coalition convoy to withdraw from an engagement there. Enemy troops in concealed bunkers had ambushed the coalition convoy with an improvised explosive device and automatic weapons, but broke off fighting as soon as aircraft arrived. The coalition jet then performed tactical reconnaissance overhead as coalition attack helicopters targeted the enemy from close up.

Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs and an F-15E performed a number of shows of force in Bagram and Kabul to disperse suspicious people gathering along the road or engaged in suspicious behavior along the routes of several coalition convoys. The convoys proceeded to their destinations without interference and without coalition forces needing to employ lethal force.

In Ghazni, an A-10 flew a show of force near a coalition forward base when sentries detected suspicious activity near the base perimeter. The maneuver provided a deterrent against any further enemy action.